I do an open format radio show on Radio Regent online out of Regent Park in Toronto every Friday from 5 p.m. til 7,called CORBY's ORBIT playing everymusic, so far no Death Metal or light opera but who knows?http://www.radioregent.com/
Illustration by John Kricfalusi

Chris Ronald, a Vancouver school-teacher with a set of engaging songs weaving personal and topical insights into an engaging dialogue with the listener's emotions.

Kacy And Clayton: artistry and intensity dedicated to a sparse but magically empathetic clarity. A holyghost gal singer and a bare-fingered Piedmont Blues guitarist that go clear back in time to a pre-Joni era. Her voice becomes attenuated into bold and carefree lyricism over the muscular knuckles of Clayton's strategic rhythmic pathways.

Their recording, Les Frontières imaginaires is nominated for Best Traditional and Best World Music album.

Buffy and Larry warmed hearts with their kitchen country music and back-home hospitality.

Jill Zmud, with help from Keith Glass and Jerusha Lewis, brought us a reverent tribute to her lost uncle and father with touching intimacy. Nominated for Contemporary Album Of The Year, Small Matters Of Life And Death, a wise and winning collection of songs, derives its inspiration from family and fate.

Perennial favourite James Keelaghan and his monster bass accompanist Hugh MacMillan gave a final touch of lamplighter anthems and good humour to a fantastic and well-curated evening of the best that Canada has to offer.

The throb intensifies tonight again as we rise toward tomorrow's Canadian Folk Music Awards Gala.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

The City of Ottawa is currently celebrating Canadian Folk Music Week. This weekend will be a totally faboo cornpone / heyrube of communion and music, including nominee showcases (Thursday & Friday at Bronson Centre), workshops (Saturday and Sunday during the day at the Ottawa Folklore Centre) and a songwriters' circle event. Saturday culminates with a bilingual gala event at the Bronson Centre (211 Bronson Avenue), hosted by Shelagh Rogers and musician Benoit Bourque. Anybody who's anybody and everybody who's somebody will be there bowing, fretting, loving, demonstrating and exemplifying Canada's strongest pulsing musical circulatory system.I am taking some time out from my secret identity to go up to the nation's centerfold for some laps around the cultural crux of the nation. I shall attempt, with my long-time spar Leonard, to write up, observe and photograph the genuine jammers and powers that be, in the early to wee hours of the festivities. Our international musical prowess is derived from the gregariousness, generosity and spinal fortitude of events like this.My show of the 28th will be an archival file, since I will be folky-tonking round the town.Thanks to the Weirs for certain dialectical contributions.

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

I was proud to be in a public school gym with eight guitarists, two pianists, three good singers, and a locked-in bass and drums section today, as we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashin' (Byrds version) for a silent and listening Remembrance Day audience.

We had compulsory cadets in Chatham Ontario when I was in grade 10. ALL the boys. We went to target practice once a week at the Armory. The good shots were given rifles and the rest of us got bren guns and sten guns, which we had to assemble and disassemble on command. We had drill practice summer and winter.

I spoke to the kids before we played today. I said "You're lucky; you have dragons and super villains to be afraid of. I think that's great. When I was a boy, I was afraid of waking up and seeing all my neighbours' houses on fire."

Ottawa Folklore Centre - 1111 Bank Street$5/door or free admission with the purchase of a CFMA Full Access PassHere's an opportunity to sing! We'll use the great book "Rise Up Singing". Arthur McGregor will lead the sing with his guitar. Singers call out the song they wish to sing and the page number and, if Arthur knows it (he bats about 95%!) we sing it. If he doesn't the caller teaches us the song! It'll last a couple of hours and we'll break in the middle for coffee and munchies. The Folklore Centre will loan copies of Rise Up Singing or you can bring your own. WORKSHOP: Ukulele Jam with Garett Barr12 p.m. - 1 p.m.Ottawa Folklore Centre - 1111 Bank Street $5/door or free admission with the purchase of a CFMA Full Access PassJoin local ukulele teacher Garett Barr for a Canadian Folk music themed Ukulele Jam! This jam will feature songs by your favourite Canadian Folk Songwriters such as Stan Rogers, Bruce Cockburn, Gordon Lightfoot, Neil Young and Joni Mitchell just to name a few! Everyone is welcome to join, no matter what playing level.

WORKSHOP: Songwriting Workshop with Shari Ulrich1 p.m. - 3 p.m.Ottawa Folklore Centre - 1111 Bank Street $20/door or free admission with the purchase of a CFMA Full Access PassShari Ulrich is nominated for English Songwriter of the Year for the 2014 CFMAs (she is also nominated for three additional awards with her group The High Bar Gang). She will discuss all aspects of the craft of songwriting using the work of the participants as a spring board. Shari will cover lyric structure, song structure, what makes songs work, performance, and other elements of songwriting for novice, experienced, professional and performing songwriters.

A two time Juno Award winner, and member the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame, Shari was first known for her multi-instrumentalist skills with the Pied Pumkin and on as the voice of the Hometown Band. Her career as a singer songwriter brings her to her latest release "Everywhere I Go" (Borealis Records) - engineered and produced by her daughter Julia Graff, also a multi-instrumentalist. It is Shari's 8th solo album, and the 21st including her work with Ulrich Henderson Forbes, BTU with Barney Bentall & Tom Taylor, and The High Bar Gang.

WORKSHOP: Trad Tune Jam

2 p.m.- 5 p.m.

Patty's Pub - 1186 Bank St.FreeCome and play in a traditional session with CFMA nominees and local players. Patty's Pub is located in Old Ottawa South, near the remainder of the day's activities - their food is good, their beer is local (and they have the biggies too), and the entertainment will be excellent. Irish/Scottish/Quebecois/Cape Breton/Old Time players are all welcome!

WORKSHOP: Songwriter Circle 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. The Georgetown Pub - 1159 Bank St.FreeCFMA nominees, local singers, and spectators are invited to The Georgetown Pub, home of many a folk song, for an afternoon of sharing songs. Hosts Ana Miura and 2014 CFMA Nominee Amanda Rheaume will welcome some of the best in Canadian talent, and welcome all languages and genres of folk song.WORKSHOP: Singing Beatles Harmony with Gathering Sparks (Jane Lewis, Eve Goldberg and Sam Turton)3 p.m. - 5 p.m.Ottawa Folklore Centre - 1111 Bank Street$20/door or free admission with the purchase of a CFMA Full Access PassTravel beyond the frontiers of normal harmony. Together we will explore and sing some of The Beatles' most unique and surprising vocal arrangements. We'll be learning parts by ear; previous experience with harmony is beneficial, but not necessary. Join us in some of the most beautiful music ever written-all you need is love!

Gathering Sparks is the graceful collision of Eve Goldberg, Jane Lewis, and Sam Turton -musical friends who bonded over finely tuned harmonies and the craft of songwriting. The trio's inclusive approach embraces blues, gospel, folk, and pop influences tastefully played on acoustic and slide guitar, piano, accordion, ukulele, and banjo.

Gathering Sparks is nominated for Vocal Group of the Year for the 2014 CFMAs.